Bout-de-Zan and the Shirker (1915) User Reviews

Comedy And Propaganda

[FerdinandVonGalitzien · 6/10 · 13 January 2012]

"Bout-de-Zan Et L'Embusqué" ( Bout de Zan And The Shirker ) (1915) is a French film ( nobody is perfect ) directed by the famous director Herr Louis Feuillade and part of a long series of short comedies directed by Feuillade featuring child star Bout de Zan ( Herr René Poyen ). This brief film is very funny and well paced but also contains a bit of propaganda that may be a bit shocking in these politically correct days.

The film depicts how Herr Marius Superbore, during wartime on a peaceful afternoon, bores Bout de Zan's uncles with unbelievable hunting stories; Herr Superbore appears with a rabbit saying that he shot him right between the eyes from a distance of five hundred feet. Obviously nobody believes him so he decides to demonstrate his abilities during the next day in his house and in front of Bout de Zan's uncles betting that he will shoot a bird the size of his thumb at five hundred feet. It's actually a trick and Bout de Zan exposes it and makes a fool of him.

Once Herr Superbore is unmasked, Bout de Zan tells him in a note: "Since you're such a good shot, instead of telling jokes why don't you do like my dad and go to the front to kill some Krauts". This is not a harmless comment and typical of the propaganda of the times, shamelessly using the little boy as a spokesperson for French patriotism.

Fortunately today things have changed and Germans bear them no malice; after all Teutons finally achieved their old intention of ruling Europe thanks to a peaceful and polite policy… And now, if you'll allow me, I must temporarily take my leave because this German Count has to attend a meeting of the German/French friendship club.

Herr Graf Ferdinand Von Galitzien http://ferdinandvongalitzien.blogspot.com

Not so innocent

[dbdumonteil · 7 February 2010]

Propaganda was everywhere and did not spare the children,some of whom were already orphans when Feuillade made his short.Propaganda had begun in the classroom after Jules Ferry made schooling compulsory until 14 (1882):the loss of Alsace and Lorraine ,it was written in old history books of the time ,was only temporary and it's up to you,young boys of France ! The comics characters of the time,particularly Becassine and Les Pieds Nickelés were "called up" by their writers and played their part in brainwashing.So did the celluloid heroes.

It was 1915 and it was still "L'Union Sacrée " -it was to last until 1917 where people began to complain and even to rebel (Kubrik's "paths of glory" takes place precisely in 1917).

"Bout De Zan Et L'Embusqué" may be a funny little short ;but it's not only that.It's Feuillade 's ultra-reactionary side -unknown abroad but which some historian writers of the FRench cinema have denounced (Roger Boussinot notably).Bout De Zan and Bébé were the two heroes of the shorts targeted at the kids market .The moral of the story is obnoxious (my dad is in the trenches so why wouldn't you go too?) Why,a precedent user asked,didn't it remain purely a clean and fun silent comedy? Because the children had to know that their fathers were right and that their fight was just and that the shirkers were vermin (and however many of those folks on the hill were part of them and sent their fellow men to the front ).

A short comedy with wartime propaganda

[a-cinema-history · 7/10 · 23 October 2013]

Next to his well-known thriller serials, Fantomas, Les Vampires and Judex, Louis Feuillade directed a number of short comedies with a little boy called Bout-de-Zan, often wiser than the adults around him.

In this episode, filmed in France during WWI, Bout-de-Zan unmasks a hunter who pretends to be a sharp shooter and advises him to enlist to fight the Germans rather than telling tales. This film is typical of short comedies produced in France at the time. While it only uses a static camera, the outdoor filming and the use of cross-cutting and alternating between full shot and medium shots gives a rather modern look. Child actor René Poyen, acting in a very expressive and natural way, is the main asset of the film. The film also shows how cinema was already used in war time to carry a patriotic message with the call to enlist and fight the Germans. Louis Feuillade had himself been drafted but had been sent back home just before shooting this film because of heart problems.

a-cinema-history.blogspot.com

Amusing, especially for 1915 standards.

[Boba_Fett1138 · 7/10 · 3 February 2007]

Comedies from the 1910's weren't really known for their good comical timing or pace.

Of course in 2007 perspective this movie really isn't that good, both from a technical and entertainment viewpoint. But fact is, that if you compare this movie from other comedy shorts from the same time period. from Hollywood, this is an amusing and well put together comedy short.

The movie features the comedy character Bout-de-Zan, of who lots of movies were made between 1912 and 1916 and stars early French child-star René Poyen in the main lead.

René Poyen seemed like a lively and amusing kid that knew how to act in a comical way in front of the camera. I already liked him- and thought that he was amusing in the 1915 movie-serial "Les Vampires", also directed by Louis Feuillade.

The story is simple but amusingly constructed. A old friend is visiting Bout-de-Zan's uncle and is starting to brag about how good of a shot he is. Of course Bout-de-Zan sees through this and discover he's lying and comes up with a plan to unmask him and make a fool out of him. It's very simple but the movie itself is also very short, which makes the story perfect material for a movie like this.

It's a shame that in the end the movie still turns into a propaganda movie, about joining the French army to fight the Germans in WW I. Was this really necessary? It really doesn't feel right. "Bout de Zan et l'embusqué" should had remained purely a clean and fun silent comedy short and not one that makes a statement and tell people they should join the war.

It makes the very ending one of the weaker points, of an otherwise great fun, early silent comedy short.

7/10

http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/

Available on DVD

[AndreaKuhn · 5 June 2004]

This film can be watched on the Image/Water Bearer DVD of director Louis Feuillade's "Les Vampires" (1916). It has English intertitles and is a rather harmless little comedy that stars many of the hit serial's cast and crew.

Bout de Zan, a popular child actor, stars in Episode 8 of "Les Vampires" as Mazamette's son.

Director Feuillade, who at that point had already had a huge success with his "Fantomas" serial (1913), directed many entries to the Bout de Zan series of short comedies, that usually feature the popular child and his family and little vignettes.